Thank you for these fabulous ideas!! La classe - that colour scheme is exactly what we are looking for, thank you so much for the suggestions. We definitely want to add coil design to the corners - any ideas companies who do this? (We're in Perth). We are actually thinking of extending the house to where the garage is (this will give us a larger kitchen and dining). We are therefore thinking about moving the garage to the opposite side of the property...possibly a carport. We are building a high brick wall around the whole property as that will allow us to use the front yard for entertaining. Landscaping and a beautiful old gate to the entrance will hopefully give it a softer feel. I like the idea of rendering...particularly if we do decide to extend! I love the windows in the picture you painted, we will have to replace ours as they are falling apart! Timandra Design - as mentioned above we are likely to build a wall around the property, do you think a hedge on the interior will still look nice? We want to create a private, softer front yard that we can sit out in as that is the biggest outdoor space we have (the remainder of the property has a 4metre wide wrap around verandah). I like the idea of changing the driveway, will also want to change the pathway to the front door. Are you in Perth by any chance? Michael Bell Architects - what a fantastic extension! The lane cove residence reminds me a lot of our property; I love how you've opened up the house to a luscious green garden. I think that could work well with our property out the front!

Your house is brand brand new and so yes it does look a bit stark, but don't rush to repaint! Once you have added shrubs and it has settled in it will look really lovely. Put a little money into landscaping and it will look lovely. It just needs time to settle into the landscape. Definately don't paint it grey! That is not a look that works north of sydney in my opinion! It will look grim in the qld sunshine I think. Be patient, it won't take long for new plants to grow up in QLD. What comes to mind is your house is like a bride in a white dress... its the bouquet of flowers that really make her look beautiful. Try looking at bridal magazines for some inspiration for what garden style you like. 2 approaches I would try. Tropical foliage and tropical colour with bright gingers, lipstick palms, cordylines etc.. There are plenty of species that will do fine in the subtropics. Or the second and perhaps what I would favour for myself is to create an avenue of colourful flowering trees along the driveway like jacaranda, frangipani, flame tree, or perhaps one spreading poinciana out front in the middle of the yard if there is space. If you want some real wow factor employ a landscape gardener to give you something really unique, a great feature design. Or for a simpler approach just go to the nursery and pick what you like the look of. The house will look great with any sort of garden to soften the edges.

From your latest photos it looks really great, glass would look awesome also , it really depends on the look you are after, glass would look really modern but that iron work looks really great, decisions , decisions.

Without knowing roof colour , I'd go a slight apricot or peach tone . It is never going to look modern or trendy , I wouldn't go dark , I would keep away from anything grey or even surfmist or similar , again blues , greens , reds won't work IMO . A warm white sort of might work , but not only will it be boring , it risks looking like a school building or worse . Embrace the 60's , try and add gardens and something with colour like a large glazed pot or similar , even a nice fence or $150 letterbox or something , if you are wanting to look like you care .